ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich., April 2, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Record crowds are expected in the eternal city, for the upcoming canonizations of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII on April 27th. Add in the worldwide popularity of Pope Francis, and Rome has now become an even more desired destination for travelers. Rome and the Vatican: A Guide 4 Pilgrims is a new travel guide, rich in history with 800 inspiring photographs detailing over 100 pilgrim sites with numerous maps and convenient walking tours, as well as hundreds of tips with essential information any Rome traveler would value. For those pilgrims traveling to these canonizations, who want to dig deeper into the Eternal City and their Catholic faith, authors Kenneth and Elizabeth Nowell share bonus sites and eccentricities that most Rome/Vatican travel books and tourists miss.

"This book is at the top of my list as one of the most comprehensive Catholic travel guides to Rome," says Teresa Tomeo, a popular Catholic radio and television show host who has led thousands of pilgrims to Rome for over ten years. "I am taking this book with me on all four of my pilgrimages to Rome this year. Although I have been to Rome many times, this book will help me to discover the hidden gems most miss when visiting the eternal city."

Pilgrims are steered off the well-trodden tourist paths to out-of-the-way sites complete with over 1,000 surprising facts, history, and trivia.

These sites most tourists miss include:

The preserved head of St. John the Baptist

A baptismal font used by St. Peter

The column upon which St. Paul was beheaded

The stone upon which soldiers cast lots for Jesus' tunic

St. Paul's remains, sarcophagus and the chains that held him

A section of the scourging column of Jesus Christ

"With this book in hand, you can see and appreciate what most Christians never learn, and to elevate your faith to a new level - what most tourists miss," says Nowell. "My wife and I wrote this book for people like us: those who want to experience their travels as life intensified, seeking to squeeze every ounce out of what they see, experience and learn. We want not only the city of Rome to be called eternal, but the memories of these beautiful sites as well."